At a Glance
- Tasks: Assist in driving initiatives and improvements across various business functions.
- Company: Join Thales, a leader in defence and technology innovation.
- Benefits: Earn while you learn with competitive salary, health care, and generous leave.
- Why this job: Gain valuable experience and recognised qualifications while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: 104 UCAS points at A Level or equivalent; 5 GCSEs including English and Maths.
- Other info: Flexible working patterns and excellent career growth opportunities await you.
The predicted salary is between 20000 - 28000 £ per year.
Location: Templecombe, United Kingdom. Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.
Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
Start Date: 07 September 2026
Salary: £24,000 per annum
Employee type: Permanent
Location: Templecombe
Working Schedule: Monday – Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday – Thursday, 5 hours Friday)
What the role has to offer:
- Earn while you learn
- Job specific training experience
- Recognised qualifications
- Permanent role from day one
- Tuition fees for university or approved training providers are fully covered
You will gain valuable experience by working in a variety of business functions such as Finance, Health & Safety, Delivery, Legal & Commercial and Procurement. This will equip you with the knowledge and opportunities to develop and further your skills and behaviours which will be consolidated with your Chartered Manager Degree. With each placement you will gain an enhanced understanding of the business.
You will be encouraged to support Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives throughout your apprenticeship to enhance society and the environment and allow you to manage stakeholders and to demonstrate your leadership skills.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assisting the functions in driving through initiatives and improvements - these tasks vary depending on the placement and could take the form of a defined project or generally helping the team with their workload
- Accessing data via our digital operations, improving data quality, producing reports
- Updating our Enterprise Resource Planning tool, gaining an understanding of our processes
Apprentice Programme:
As a Business Management Apprentice, you will be studying at Corndel towards a Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree. This is a 3-year programme and will be delivered via a virtual delivery model, with live virtual workshops and 1-2-1 coaching calls. At the end of the 3 years and upon passing your End Point Assessment you will have achieved a BSc in Applied Business Management, plus the Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. You will also achieve Chartered Manager Status with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
Requirements:
- 104 UCAS points at A Level (BCC) or an equivalent i.e. BTEC (DMM) in a business discipline
- 5 GCSE’s 9-4 (A-C), including English and Maths
Benefits:
- 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
- Company Pension
- Health Care Cash Plan
- Life Insurance
- Discount Portal
- Performance-related pay uplifts
- 80 Hours Volunteering (per year for the first two years)
Please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February - May 2026. Induction week for all Graduates and Apprentices will take place from Monday 7 September - Friday 11 September 2026.
Closing date: Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Thursday 12 February 2026, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end of February 2026 with details of next steps.
Please note that roles may close earlier than the advertised deadline if we receive a high number of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this opportunity.
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, all our roles are subject to security restrictions. All successful candidates must possess the permanent right to work in the UK and will be required to go through Government security clearance at BPSS Level and to obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements below, prior to starting with us.
This role requires you to be a sole British National from birth and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. As part of the vetting process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and/or educational history.
Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity, and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales. In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided.
At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.
Great journeys start here, apply now!
2026 Business Management Apprentice - Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship employer: Thales Group
Contact Detail:
Thales Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land 2026 Business Management Apprentice - Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research Thales and understand their mission in defence and technology. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common interview questions and think about how your experiences align with the role. Mock interviews with friends or family can help boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining Thales and ready to take the first step towards an exciting career.
We think you need these skills to ace 2026 Business Management Apprentice - Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to get to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to show your enthusiasm for the role and what makes you unique.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to fit the Business Management Apprentice role. Highlight relevant experiences and skills that align with the job description, so we can see why you’re a great fit for us!
Proofread, Proofread, Proofread!: Before hitting send, give your application a thorough read. Typos and grammatical errors can distract from your message, so take the time to polish it up. We appreciate attention to detail!
Apply Early: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application! We encourage you to apply as soon as possible through our website to avoid missing out on this fantastic opportunity. The early bird catches the worm!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thales Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you research Thales and their role in defence and technology. Understand their mission, values, and recent projects. This will not only impress your interviewers but also help you tailor your answers to align with what they’re looking for.
✨Showcase Your Skills
Think about the skills and experiences that relate to the Business Management Apprentice role. Prepare specific examples of how you've demonstrated leadership, teamwork, or problem-solving in past experiences. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare a few insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the company. You might ask about the types of projects you'll be involved in or how the apprenticeship programme supports career development.
✨Be Yourself
While it’s important to be professional, don’t forget to let your personality shine through. Thales values diversity and inclusion, so being authentic can help you stand out. Share your passion for business management and how you see yourself contributing to their mission.